poetry. But it is serious business. Fate, if not Nature, is its ruling genius. The Pandemonium is not a baby-house of the fancy, and it is ranked (ordinarily) with natural, i. e. with the highest and most important order of poetry, and above the Rape of the Lock. I intended a definition, and have run again into examples. Lord Byron's concretions have spoiled me for philosophy.

THE END.

WILEY & PUTNAM'S

LIBRARY OF AMERICAN BOOKS

No. I.

JOURNAL OF AN AFRICAN CRUISER.

Journal of an African Cruiser. Edited by Nathaniel Hawthorne. 1 vol., beautifully printed, 50 cents.

"This Journal is freshly and cleverly written, and touches on a scene little hackneyed by journalists or travellers. He writes unaffectedly on most subjects and often with great animation.'-London Examiner.

"This is an unpretending, lively, little volume. The Journal adds something to our previous knowledge, and that, in an amusing manner.”—London Atlas.

"The subject has the advantage of novelty; as, although an extensive commerce is carried on along the coast by British merchants, the captains they employ are not exactly of a literary turn; neither do the officers of our royal navy appear anxious to give the public the result of their experience -weighed down, perhaps, by the pestiferous climate and the arduous character of their labors; whilst the dreaded pestilence effectually stops the tourist in search of the picturesque. To our recollection, the last dozen years have only produced three books touching upon Western Africa; that of Holman, the blind traveller, who called at Sierra Leone and Cape Coast Castle, but of course saw nothing; Ranken's White Man's Grave,' which was confined to Sierra Leone, and which preferred the attractions of literary effect to solid accuracy; with Dr. Madden's semi-official reports, which were obnoxious to the same remark with a bias superadded. Hence, the 'Journal of an African Cruiser' is not only fresh in its subject, but informing in its matter, especially in relation to the experiment of Liberia. It has the further advantage of giving us an American view of the slave trade and the Negro character, without the prejudices of the southern planter, or the fanaticism of the abolitionist."-London Spectator.

"As pleasant and intelligent a specimen of American Literature written in a candid, observant, and gentlemanly spirit, as has appeared since first the Literary Gazette welcomed Washington Irving to the British Shore." -London Lit. Gaz. July 19, 1845.

"A very entertaining volume, a worthy leader of the series of American Books."-Smith's Weekly Volume.

"We pronounce it a work of uncommon interest and merit."-Rover.

"This is the title of a book just issued by Wiley & Putnam, as No. 1 of their proposed LIBRARY OF AMERICAN BOOKS, a series intended to embrace original works of merit and interest, from the pens of American authors. The design can scarcely fail to be successful. We have a firm faith that books well worth reading, as well worth it as English books of the same class, can be produced in this country; and such books, and such only, we presume Messrs. Wiley & Putnam intend to publish in their series. This first number is well worthy of its place. It is the journal of an officer on board an American cruiser on the coast of Africa,—and relates to a field hitherto almost entirely unnoticed by travelling authors. It is written in a plain, straightforward, unambitious style, and evinces a very keen talent for observation, and sound judgment and enlightened discrimination. The book is edited by Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of the most gifted writers in this country, whose works, we trust, will find a place in this series. The volume is very handsomely printed, and sold at fifty cents."-New York Courier.

"This is a pleasantly written Journal of a cruise to the western coast of Africa, and embodies a good amount of valuable information. The author spent some time at Liberia, and gives quite a flattering account of the colony. We like the spirit of the work, and especially admire the simplicity and grace of its style."-N. Y. Evangelist.

No. II.

POE'S TALES.

Tales. By EDGAR A. POE. 1 vol., beautifully printed in large clear type, on fine paper, 50 cents.

This collection includes the most characteristic of the peculiar series of Tales written by Mr. Poe. Among others will be found "The Murders of the Rue Morgue," "The Purloined Letter," "Marie Roget," "The House of Usher," "The Black Cat," "The Gold Bug," "The Descent into the Maelstrom," "The Premature Burial," "Mesmeric Revelations,” &c., &c.

"Most characteristic tales and stories."-Boston Courier.

"These effusions are well known, and have been well appreciated. Mr. Poe's singular and powerful style of prose writing, has a charm which ought to be enjoyed more than once."-U. S. Gazette.

"Mr. Poe's tales are written with much power, while all possess deep interest."-Phila. Inquirer.

"There are many writers in this country whose articles only see the light in the pages of a two or three dollar magazine, who are at least equal to some foreign authors whose works are reprinted here in the cheap and nasty style by the cart-load. The consequence is that our own authors are scarcely heard of, while Mrs. Gore and Mary Howitt, Lover, Lever, &c., &c., are lauded and read the country over. This is all wrong, and we

cordially wish the publishers success in the effort to make us better acquainted with American Literature. These Tales by Mr. Poe will be hailed as a rare treat by all lovers of the exciting and the marvellous. Full of more than German mysticism, grotesque, strange, improbable, but intensely interesting, they will be read and remembered when better things are forgotten."-New Haven Courier.

"Mr. Poe's tales need no aid of newspaper comment to give them popularity; they have secured it. We are glad to see them given to the public in this neat form, so that thousands more may be entertained by them without injury to their eye-sight."

"Tales of absorbing interest, by a powerful and vigorous writer.”—Rover.

“These tales are among the most original and characteristic compositions in American letters. In their collected form, they cannot fail to make a forcible impression on the reading public. The volume is a great stimulant to reflection.”—Graham's Magazine.

"Mr. Poe is a capital artist with all Tennyson's spirituality."-Foreign Quarterly Review.

"These tales are eminently distinguished by a wild, vigorous, and poetical imagination, a rich style, a fertile invention, and varied and curious learning. ***Of singular force and beauty."-Hon. J. P. Kennedy.

Lionizing, by Edgar A. Poe, is the happiest travestie of the coxcombical egotism of travelling scribblers I have ever seen. Mr. Poe is decidedly the best of all our young writers; I don't know but I may say of all our old ones."-J. K. Paulding.

"Mr. Poe has distinguished himself in every walk of literature, and it may be doubted whether the country boasts a writer of greater fervor and more varied and finished accomplishments. In the field of romance, he has the rare merit of originality."-Hon. R. T. Conrad.

"That powerful pen whose versatile and brilliant creations I have so often admired."—Mrs. Sigourney.

"These tales have been admired wherever they have been perused by men of mind. Mr. Poe is no imitator in story-telling."-Phila. Saturday Cour.

"The most remarkable American work of fiction that has been published within the last fifteen years."-Phil. Museum.

"Mr. Poe is one of those original, philosophical writers of whom we have too few; his tales produce a deep and thrilling interest.”—N. Y. •Courier.

"This author can throw a chain of enchantment around any scene which he attempts to describe."- Baltimore Visiter.

"The reputation of this author is preeminent for originality, independence, a perfect command of the English language, and a certain easy and